Environmental Sustainability in Cultural Venues

April 22nd is celebrated as Earth Day by many across the globe. Created in 1970, Earth Day is dedicated to raising awareness over climate change issues. Now, each year we are reminded of our own environmental impact and our desire to do more to help our planet. In addition to making more sustainable choices in our homes, we can still care for the environment in our professional spaces too!

Have you ever considered how the physical workspace might have a negative impact on the environment? You would turn off the lights in your bathroom before leaving your own home, so why leave them on at work? The Canada Green Building Council reveals that: buildings generate nearly 30% of all greenhouse gases. 35% of landfill waste comes from construction and demolition activities, and up to 70% of municipal water is consumed in and around buildings.” 

If you work in the arts, creative spaces also play a role in our environmental impact. Consider purpose-built spaces vs non-purpose built art spaces: many museums and art galleries operate out of buildings that were not initially designed to specifically house artifacts and/or art pieces in an environmentally-conscious way. In recent years, climate change has also been a central theme around environmental awareness for many exhibitions, workshops/webinars, and conferences in the arts and culture sector. By focusing on the spaces we work in, small but significant steps can be taken to reduce our waste output. 

Here are some building modifications and energy-saving tips that can help art galleries and museums reduce their environmental impact:

  • Changing from halogen light bulbs to LEDs
    • LEDs are free of hazardous materials, and they last up to 20 times longer than traditional lighting
  • Green roof or green wall
    • These can help regulate a building’s internal temperature, reduce stormwater runoff, and offer significant economic benefits, including a longer roof life and heating and cooling energy savings.Upgrading your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning to decrease energy costs
  • If possible, becoming LEED-certified
    • LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a universal green building rating system
  • Installing a composting toilet
    • A composting toilet is a type of dry toilet that treats human waste by the composting process, decomposing organic matter into compost-like material
  • If you are engaging in building or renovating an arts space, integrating sustainable alternative materials (such as bamboo, recycled plastic, wood, hempcrete, and papercrete) into your building plan
  • Reducing waste produced in a space, such as using less plastic bottles
  • Using renewable energy sources, such as solar energy

In Canada, many organizations have integrated some more sustainable methods into their spaces. Here are a few examples: 

The Canadian Automotive Museum, based in Oshawa Ontario, underwent a capital project in 2015 to refresh their facility and invest in maintaining the historic structure of the building. The project saw the Museum reduce their environmental impact by upgrading their HVAC system, as well as installing new doors and safety lighting to improve the exterior facade.

The McMichael Canadian Art Collection became the first LEED-certified art gallery in Canada gaining silver certification in 2010. The gallery switched over to sensor faucets and water-saving fixtures throughout, and they consulted closely with Enermodal Engineering and LEED auditors to install a new LED lighting system. Today, 80% of the gallery’s lighting system uses LEDs.

 

In Winnipeg, Manitoba, 245 McDermot is an arts hub that features a composting toilet to more efficiently manage and reduce their waste and water use.

To help get you started, ArtsBuild Ontario has several resources to support you in your sustainable creative space journey. Check it out!

Creative Green: The Creative Green Tools were created by Julie’s Bicycle. They are widely used in the UK and other parts of Europe, and are recognized globally as the gold standard for carbon footprinting tools that serve the arts and culture sector. They are being adapted so they can be used all across Canada, and this adaptation is scheduled to launch in 2022. 

Julie’s Bicycle: Julie’s Bicycle (JB) is a pioneering not-for-profit, mobilizing the arts and culture to take action on the climate and ecological crisis. JB’s website is filled with resources, news and tools – all relevant to Ontario’s creative spaces. 

The Green Cube: This article, written by Chris Hampton and featured in Canadian Art, speaks to the amount of waste exhibitions produce and the impact creative spaces have on the environment. Museums and galleries are platforms where societal issues or ideas are shared, but the facilities which house these culturally significant exhibitions could be more environmentally-friendly.

“6 Adaptive Reuse Projects in Toronto”: Featured on Green Ribbon, this article explores the idea of adaptive reuse, which is a growing trend in architecture, placemaking, and urbanism. Chances are, you are familiar with a space that has transformed from its original purpose (old factories into lofts or office buildings). Check out six examples of these kinds of projects in Toronto!


Celebrating Black Creative Community Spaces

As February comes to a close, we reflect on and celebrate the many Black individuals who have and continue to shape history. Across Ontario, there are many arts-based community organizations creating safe and supportive spaces for Black creatives. Here are several examples of Black-owned/operated organizations doing important work that manage creative spaces in Ontario.

Nia Centre for the Arts

The Nia Centre for the Arts is a Toronto-based not-for-profit organization supporting artists and community members through artistic cultural experiences. Their mission is to “support, showcase and promote an appreciation of arts from across the African Diaspora.” Born from a need for more safe spaces for African-Canadian communities, the centre recently received a capital project grant of up to $480,000 to support the construction of an accessible, energy-efficient indoor and outdoor multi-use space at their new facility. 

Nia Centre for the Arts will eventually hold programs, events and provide space for artist studios and galleries. The funds will also support the construction costs to develop a co-working space, a roof-top patio, enhanced Wi-Fi infrastructure and upgrades to building accessibility.

Visit their website.

Wildseed Centre for Art & Activism

Wildseed Centre for Art & Activism developed through the work of Black Lives Matter activists. The centre is a multipurpose space designed to provide a safe space for “radical Black experimentation and creation”. Wildseed provides skill-building and professional development opportunities for Black creatives through their programmings, such as their Black Arts Fellowship 20 month program for Black visual, movement, and performance artists.  

Visit their website.

Black Artists’ Networks Dialogue – BAND

The mandate of the Black Artists’ Networks Dialogue (BAND) is to support, document and showcase the artistic and cultural contributions of Black artists and cultural workers both in Canada and internationally. BAND also offers a variety of programs including their Emerging Artist Exhibitions (solo professional exhibits) , Performing Arts Series (emerging and established artist showcase), and Canadian Culture Series (presentation and speaking series).

Visit their website.

Creative arts initiatives and contributions of Black-led organizations continue to make a vital impact on Ontario arts communities. We support and honour the work done, and the great work to come. 

 


ABO’s Brief for Pre-Budget Consultations 2022

ArtsBuild Ontario submitted a brief for the 2022 Provincial Pre-Budget Consultations calling for a permanent cultural infrastructure fund at the provincial level.

Creative spaces (like theatres, museums, galleries, etc…) are the places where arts and culture happen. Despite their importance, facilities are the most under-resourced component of arts operations. This strain was magnified throughout the pandemic with the closure and reduced operations of cultural venues across the province. With support from the Province of Ontario, arts organizations can rebuild themselves with new digital, COVID-19-safe, and sustainable infrastructure that will allow for the economic recovery of the sector. 

We suggest the following recommendations: 

Establish a permanent cultural infrastructure fund of $15-20 million annually

  • We believe that access to a provincial capital fund for cultural infrastructure is necessary for building COVID-19-safe and digitally-forward creative spaces. This investment would support the sustainability and growth of our cultural assets in Ontario.
  • Our data indicates that arts organizations in Ontario collectively need $300 million to complete current and future capital projects. 
  • We recommend coordinating with the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, which provides matching funds at the Federal level. Many small to medium-sized organizations struggle to apply to this fund as there is no significant provincial level grant adequate to meet their needs.
  • We are thankful for the reinstatement of the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Capital Stream – as this is the only provincial fund available for arts organizations and their capital projects. The maximum amount awarded for this grant is $150,000; however, our data demonstrates that the investment needed to adequately support creative spaces far exceeds this amount. 
  • We recommend that this fund be accessible to small to medium-sized arts organizations, to support short-term space leases (under 5 years). 
  • Lastly, arts organizations need support for digital infrastructure. Over the course of the pandemic, many developed digital methods for artistic production and presentation.  Provincial support can mobilize the arts towards a digital future alongside creative spaces with further investment.

Increase the Ontario Arts Council’s base budget to $95 million annually 

  • Many of the arts organizations and artists we serve are supported by the Ontario Arts Council (OAC). According to the Canadian Artists Representation/Le Front des artistes canadiens (CARFAC Ontario), the OAC would require a $110 million base budget in 2022 in order to remain in line with 1991 investment levels. To support the post-pandemic recovery of the arts sector, further investment in the OAC is needed.

Read the full submission here.


Creative Space Projects During COVID-19 Recording

In this 2 part webinar on Creative Space Project During COVID-19,  the panelists shared their experiences and advice around capital projects in pandemic times, focusing on successes and challenges with project planning, timeline/adjustments, contingencies and risk management, funding, and overall recommendations for creative space project development.

The featured panelists were:

  • Janis Monture, Executive Director of Woodland Cultural Centre
  • Paul Fujimoto-Pihl, Project Manager at the Grand Theatre

Please note that the second portion of the webinar served as a mandatory check-in point for mentors and mentees of ABO’s Creative Spaces Mentoring Network (CSMN) 2021-22.

To View Part #1

Creative Space Projects During COVID-19 – Panel Portion:

http://artsbuildontario.adobeconnect.com/creativeprojectsincovid/

To View Part #2

Creative Space Projects During COVID-19 – CSMN Mid-Program Webinar Portion:

http://artsbuildontario.adobeconnect.com/csmn21midprogram/

 


What is an Arts Service Organization and What Do We Do?

Starting a career in the arts can be daunting and overwhelming. How do you get funding? How do you write a grant? How do you make your organization stand out? Arts service organizations (ASOs) can provide guidance and tools to help you succeed in the arts and culture sector.

ASOs are typically nonprofit groups that support artists and creative industry groups with a range of different tools and resources. There are different types of ASOs, and each can provide assistance based on your organizational needs. Some ASOs support a specific group such as performers or artists, while others can support disciplines such as theatre or music. Arts Service Organizations can provide:

  • funding or funding resources
  • fiscal assistance
  • advocacy 
  • professional development & networking
  • conferences
  • membership based models

So what kind of ASO are we? ArtsBuild Ontario is an ASO who focuses on supporting artists and their organizations in finding long-term space solutions for their creative practice. We encompass several different areas of support to arts organizations by providing programs, research, tools and resources. We have professional development opportunities, free and paid resources, as well as advocacy support for space needs. We support the development and management of creative spaces such as theatres, galleries, concert halls, museums and other creative spaces. 

Our 3 core programs:

Creative Spaces Mentoring Network

This is a mentoring program for leaders in Ontario’s arts and heritage sectors focused on strengthening business and management skills needed to successfully oversee, renew and develop creative spaces.

Asset Planner for the Arts 

Make better decisions and produce accurate capital forecasts for your arts facility with Asset Planner for the Arts – a tool that tracks your facility’s condition and replacement costs for key building components.

Learning Series

Our learning series includes free and paid webinars that cover a range of topics such as  accessibility, asset management, capital project support, energy efficiency, managing creative spaces and space rentals. 

There are more ASOs who support Ontario’s arts sector! 

While ArtsBuild Ontario targets building, managing, and financing needs for creative space, there are several other organizations across Ontario dedicated to different needs in the sector. Check them out!